Monthly Archives: October 2013

People deal with loss in different ways. Some clam up, some weep then move on and other, make movies about it. I know in making this film it helps his brother and those that knew him. I wish every highs cool kid would be able to see this film and Im sadden that he has to even fight to ask for money to make the film. What happened to America’s patriotism?

This is a trailer film of a movie a brother is making about his Marine that he lost. You see the emotion of other Marines that knew “Sgt. Dan Patron was an explosive ordnance disposal technician who died during a 2011 deployment to Helmand province in Afghanistan. He was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was 26-years-old.” See his website here and make a donation to help him out. Also, check out the Marine Times website & their story on him as well. The warriors you see here are exactly the heroes the USMC is sending packing. Time for a C-Gar

Cuts to the Marine Corps as mandated by sequestration are bringing the force to dangerously low levels. In 2011, the Marines announced they hoped to “right-size” the force after a decade of war from 202,000 to 186,800. But last month, Commandant General Jim Amos announced the Corps would need to reduce the Marine force to a “minimum acceptable” level of 174,000 as a result of sequestration budget cuts.

This week, while speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Major General Frank McKenzie addressed speculation that the force might have to be cut even deeper.

“Based on our review of the existing requirements today and our best-case projection for 2017, 150,000 would be an unviable number for the Marines,” McKenzie said.

While cuts to 150,000 are not likely, the reduction to 174,000 still means a cut to the fundamental…

You can’t put a price tag on surviving a deadly attack overseas, but one Fort Hood soldier knows the cost of the helmet that saved his life all too well.

“I had a couple shrapnels in my side plates and in my helmet,” Army Sergeant Michael Williams said about the gear that protected him on June 13, 2011.

Now, more than two years after the day he was wounded by an improvised explosive device in Iraq, he got a “bill” for his shrapnel-pierced helmet.

“I automatically assumed that, you know, that’s the gear that I got blown up in, that I almost died in, and I lost two buddies in, and I didn’t think anything of it.”

A few months after the blast injured his back and head, Mike says he cleared his missing gear with supply personnel, but admits he didn’t continue to regularly check on his status regarding missing gear, like he should have.

Then when he went through finance to medically retire in September, he got a statement of charges.

It lists $280.80 for his helmet, $25.99 for his neck pad, plus $335.42 for other gear that someone stole from a shipping container on the way back from the deployment.

Mike’s leadership says paying the $642.21 total is where Mike went wrong.

“The Soldier’s unit initiated a Financial Liability Investigation of Property Loss. While the investigation was in progress, Sgt. Williams voluntarily paid for the missing equipment, now the unit is looking into possible options to help the Soldier,” a 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Officer said.

For now, Mike is taking the financial hit, while he, his wife and their two kids do what they can to cut back on spending.

He said, “It put me negative. I haven’t been able to pay my mortgage for this month, so I’m kind of behind on that, and then my wife actually pulled some money out of her other account.”

He’s also put off the cost of training for his new civilian career, driving commercial vehicles.

“You know it’s partially my fault, but at the same time, it really should never happen, because I’m not the only person it’s happened to,” Mike said.

Still, he says he’s extremely grateful his unit is trying to find a way to help him.

Wounded, bandaged and hooked up to tubes in an Afghanistan intensive care unit, a U.S. Army Ranger, thought by hospital staff to be unconscious, heard his commander’s voice and addressed him with the iconic symbol of respect: a salute.

U.S. Army Ranger Josh Hargis, wounded at a base in Afghanistan, raises his hand in salute during his Purple Heart ceremony. He was thought to be unconscious and raised his arm despite a doctor initially trying to restrain him. (Image source: Taylor Hargis/Facebook)

Josh Hargis, a Purple Heart recipient with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, was injured after 13 improvised explosive devices went off while he was conducting a mission in Afghanistan to capture a high value target, according to the website Guardian of Valor. Several members of the unit were killed by a woman wearing a suicide vest and others injured by the IEDs that went off afterward.

Hargis’ commander sent his wife, Taylor, a letter explaining what her husband endured along with a photo, which the Guardian of Valor is calling the “salute seen around the world.”

Josh Hargis and his wife, Taylor. Josh was wounded while in Afghanistan. (Image source: Taylor Hargis/Facebook)

The commander’s letter said that Hargis held on for two hours after being “seriously wounded” before making it to the hospital. Once there, he endured hours of surgery.

“…the single greatest event I have witnessed in my 10 years in the Army.”

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Before being transferred from Afghanistan to Germany where he would make his flight back to America, Hargis had a Purple Heart pinned on to his blanket in a ceremony, which included other Rangers, doctors and nurses at his bedside.

“During the presentation the [Ranger Regimental] Commander publishes the official orders verbally and leaned over Josh to thank him for his sacrifice. Josh, whom everybody in the room (over 50 people) assumed to be unconscious, began to move his right arm under the blanket in a diligent effort to salute the commander as is customary during these ceremonies,” the letter read. ”Despite his wounds, wrappings, tubes and pain, Josh fought the doctor who was trying to restrain his right arm and rendered the most beautiful salute any person in that room had ever seen.”

In this emotional moment, “grown men began to weep and we were speechless at a gesture that speak volumes about Josh’s courage and character,” the letter continued. “The picture, which we believe belongs on every news channel and every news paper is attached. I have it hanging above my desk now and will remember it as the single greatest event I have witnessed in my 10 years in the Army.”

It is unclear when exactly Hargis was injured in Afghanistan or what the extent of his injuries were.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff also have shown their lack of character and honor. They are cowards who do not have the backs of those who serve under them or of those who have ever served this country! May history remember them as the coward YES MEN that they are!

WASHINGTON — In a rare move, the Commandant of the Marine Corps has recommended that two senior Marine generals retire because of their failure to adequately protect a large base in southern Afghanistan from a Taliban attack last September in which two Marines were killed and six Marine jets were destroyed.

Eight other Marines and eight British troops were also injured in the attack.

The recommendation from Gen. James Amos that two Marine generals responsible for the base retire in effect means they are being fired.

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Quotes

"Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR."
~ Vietnam Pilot

"In combat, honor is obtained by those who do what must be done, not what is allowed by those who refuse to fight or die for their own cause...my extremes pump fear into the enemy for generations come, your extremes cause warriors to bow in the presence of the unworthy, presenting weakness and opportunity ... well, I bow to no man"
~ Antonio Cezar Vega